The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Arnauld Akodjènou, on Wednesday, 18 June 2014, received a military delegation from Bangladesh led by the Chief of Staff of the Bangladeshi Army, Lieutenant-General Mohammad Mainul Islam, at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), in Abidjan.

Lieutenant-General Mohammad Mainul Islam and the Deputy Special Representative discussed UNOCI's activities and mandate and the contribution of the Bangladeshi contingent to the peace consolidation process in Côte d'Ivoire.

They also talked about the reduction of the UN Mission's force. In this regard, the General said that this decision will give Côte d'Ivoire the opportunity to progressively take charge of its development. « This a very good thing. It proves that the country is returning to normality. As past of the Bangladesh Army, we are happy to participate in the normalisation process, » he added.



General Mohammad Mainul Islam said that Côte d'Ivoire needed to be accompanied by its different partners in order to ensure that the process is successful. He, however, accepted that many challenges still remained.

These concern the healing of wounds caused by the crisis which the country went through, helping ex-combatants to return to normal life and assisting people with regard to socio-economic development.



« I think that Côte d'Ivoire is going in the right direction » said General Mohammad Mainul Islam.



The Bangladeshi Army Chief of Staff, who has been in Côte d'ivoire depuis since 17 June, will also visit Daloa and Man where UNOCI's Bangladeshi contingent is deployed.



It should be noted that General Mohammad Mainul Islam was UNOCI's Sector West commander from 2007 to 2009.